George H.W. Bush sends letter to newborn on the occasion of his birth

Published 12:00 pm, Thursday, July 10, 2014

Former President George H. W. Bush sent a letter to a newborn Texan on the occasion of them sharing the same birthday.(Shane McAuliffe)

Former President George H. W. Bush sent a letter to a newborn Texan on the occasion of them sharing the same birthday.(Shane McAuliffe)

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In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is tethered to Mike Elliott, a member of the All Veteran Parachute Team, on a jump from a helicopter as they celebrate Bush's 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/All Veteran Parachute Team, Charles Cooley) less

In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is tethered to Mike Elliott, a member of the All Veteran Parachute Team, on a jump from a helicopter as they celebrate ... more

Photo: Charles Cooley, Associated Press

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In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is tethered to Mike Elliott, a member of the All Veteran Parachute Team, on a jump from a helicopter as they celebrate Bush's 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/All Veteran Parachute Team, Charles Cooley) less

In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is tethered to Mike Elliott, a member of the All Veteran Parachute Team, on a jump from a helicopter as they celebrate ... more

Photo: Charles Cooley, Associated Press

Image 4 of 31

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Former President George H.W. Bush, left, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. Bush made the jump, his eighth, in celebration of his 90th birthday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) less

Former President George H.W. Bush, left, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's ... more

Photo: Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press

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Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. Bush made the jump, his eighth, in celebration of his 90th birthday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) less

Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer ... more

Photo: Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press

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Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. Bush made the jump, his eighth, in celebration of his 90th birthday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, float to the ground during a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachutes down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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A spectator looks skyward at the approaching helicopter carrying former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today by skydiving with US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), Mike Elliott. less

A spectator looks skyward at the approaching helicopter carrying former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, prepare to land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church while celebrating Bush's 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Former President George H.W. Bush, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, prepare to land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church while

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church after jumping out of a helicopter on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church after jumping out of a helicopter on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Former President George H.W. Bush, left, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church after making a tandem parachute jump near Bush's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. Bush made the jump, his eighth, in celebration of his 90th birthday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) less

Former President George H.W. Bush, left, strapped to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, land on the lawn at St. Anne's Episcopal Church after making a ... more

Photo: Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press

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Spectators watch as former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachute down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Spectators watch as former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Mike Elliott, US Army Sergeant 1st Class (ret), jump out of a helicopter and parachute down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush, right, is congratulated on his parachute jump by his son, former President George W. Bush, far left, his wife Barbara Bush and his tandem team partner Mike Elliott on his 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/All Veteran Parachute Team, Kenneth Wasley) less

In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush, right, is congratulated on his parachute jump by his son, former President George W. Bush, far left, his wife Barbara ... more

Photo: Kenneth Wasley, Associated Press

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In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is checked by a doctor with the All Veteran Parachute Team after his landing of a parachute jump on his 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/All Veteran Parachute Team, Kenneth Wasley) less

In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, former President George H.W. Bush is checked by a doctor with the All Veteran Parachute Team after his landing of a parachute jump on his 90th birthday ... more

Photo: Kenneth Wasley, Associated Press

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Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful skydive down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful skydive down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, Barbara Bush kisses former President George H.W. Bush after his landing of a parachute jump on his 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/All Veteran Parachute Team, Kenneth Wasley) less

In this photo provided by the All Veteran Parachute Team, Barbara Bush kisses former President George H.W. Bush after his landing of a parachute jump on his 90th birthday in Kennebunkport, Maine, Thursday, June ... more

Photo: Kenneth Wasley, Associated Press

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KENNEBUNKPORT, ME - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful skydive down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

KENNEBUNKPORT, ME - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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KENNEBUNKPORT, ME - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful skydive down to St. Anne's Episcopal Church on June 12, 2014 in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President is celebrating his 90th birthday today. less

KENNEBUNKPORT, ME - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Former first lady Barbara Bush greets her husband and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush with a kiss after his successful ... more

Photo: Eric Shea, Getty Images

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Bush meets Ruth

Forever '41':' Cool facts about George H.W. Bush

While he was a senior baseball player at Yale, Bush got to meet the
legendary Babe Ruth just months before the slugger's death during a
ceremony where Ruth donated the original transcript of his autobiography
to the college.

When his son George W. Bush was elected president in 2000, it was just
the second time in history when a father and son had both been elected
to the high office. The other pair? John and John Quincy Adams.

When his son George W. Bush was elected president in 2000, it was just
the second time in history when a father and son had both been elected
to the high office. The other pair? John and John Quincy Adams.

Photo: Library Of Congress

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Socks obession

For years, Bush's principal supplier of socks has been Spike Heminway, a
long-time friend and golfing buddy from Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush has
even given out socks as Christmas gifts. The gift shop at the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Texas A&M campus is
selling limited edition pairs of "41" socks right now. less

For years, Bush's principal supplier of socks has been Spike Heminway, a
long-time friend and golfing buddy from Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush has
even given out socks as Christmas gifts. The gift shop at the ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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90 years young

At 90 years old, Bush is not the president who lived the longest just
yet. He has three and half years until he beats the current reigning
champ, Gerald Ford, who lived to be 93 years and 165 days old. He died
in 2006, the day after Christmas. less

At 90 years old, Bush is not the president who lived the longest just
yet. He has three and half years until he beats the current reigning
champ, Gerald Ford, who lived to be 93 years and 165 days old. He ... more

Photo: Patric Schneider, Associated Press

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Remember these?

When Blackberry phones were all the rage in the days before the
proliferation of the iPhone, Bush 41 was a big fan of the devices
according to those who spent time with him.

When Blackberry phones were all the rage in the days before the
proliferation of the iPhone, Bush 41 was a big fan of the devices
according to those who spent time with him.

Photo: BEBETO MATTHEWS, AP

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Chrome dome

Last summer Bush and members of his Secret Service detail all shaved
their heads in solidarity with the young daughter of a Secret Service
agent who was in the midst of a fight with leukemia.

Last summer Bush and members of his Secret Service detail all shaved
their heads in solidarity with the young daughter of a Secret Service
agent who was in the midst of a fight with leukemia.

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That's a strike!

When the couple was a constant mainstay at Houston Astros games at
Minute Maid Park, Barbara was fond of the game with a scorecard, which
is becoming a lost art. Seriously, most people wouldn't know how to read
a scorecard, let alone fill one out. less

When the couple was a constant mainstay at Houston Astros games at
Minute Maid Park, Barbara was fond of the game with a scorecard, which
is becoming a lost art. Seriously, most people wouldn't know how to ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

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USS 41

Bush began his career in public service as an 18-year-old Navy pilot
flying a torpedo bomber off the USS San Jacinto in the South Pacific
during World War II. Six years ago the USS George H.W. Bush, the 10th
and last of the Nimitz class aircraft carriers and the only carrier to
be named for a carrier pilot was commissioned. Bush was there with a
brood of Bushes to commemorate the event. less

Bush began his career in public service as an 18-year-old Navy pilot
flying a torpedo bomber off the USS San Jacinto in the South Pacific
during World War II. Six years ago the USS George H.W. Bush, the ... more

Photo: U.S. Navy, Getty Images

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George and Barbara

George met his wife of 69 years, Barbara Pierce, at a Christmas party in 1941. They wouldn't be married until January 1945.

George met his wife of 69 years, Barbara Pierce, at a Christmas party in 1941. They wouldn't be married until January 1945.

Photo: David Hume Kennerly, Getty Images

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What's next?

How many ex-presidents do you know that go skydiving to celebrate their
90th birthday? Bush 41 did, this morning in Maine. He even made sure to
tweet about it first. He also did this on 75th, 80th, and 85th
birthdays. In total he's made eight jumps. He might just Baumgartner it
back to Earth for his 100th. less

How many ex-presidents do you know that go skydiving to celebrate their
90th birthday? Bush 41 did, this morning in Maine. He even made sure to
tweet about it first. He also did this on 75th, 80th, and ... more

Photo: Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press

George H.W. Bush sends letter to newborn on the occasion of his birth

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Declan William McAuliffe was born on June 12 last month, sharing a birthdate with former President George H. W. Bush.

Young Declan's father, Shane McAuliffe, hosts a weekly syndicated Texas travel show called "The Texas Bucket List" which sees the elder McAuliffe traveling to all the best spots in Texas to spotlight the weird and interesting.

On the occasion of his son's birth, McAuliffe reached out to a few of his friends at Bush 41's presidential library in College Station to see if Bush 41 would write a letter to Declan that he would appreciate when he got older.

Bush 41 responded with a heartwarming note to the child, dated June 24, and it includes solid advice for anyone at any age.

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"Give life everything you've got -- don't look for the easy way out," Bush writes. "I've had a long, wonderful life, and I wish the same for you."